Kader voor vijf handtekeningen 1900

This ‘Frame for Five Signatures’ was made by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, presumably to be a presentation piece for a group of people, likely colleagues. The drawing is rendered in pencil and opaque watercolor. The frame is rendered with stylized motifs. The repeated floral and foliate patterns are hallmarks of the Art Nouveau style. De Vries was trained in decorative arts, so this design reflects the kind of precise draftsmanship needed for commercial production. The original signatures would have been inscribed within the spaces indicated, making it a collaborative piece. Consider how this drawing relies on the labor of many hands: de Vries as the designer, and the five people who would eventually sign it. It makes you think about the social life of design. By understanding the materials and the making process, we start to see how this drawing transcends traditional boundaries of art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the artistry inherent in everyday life.